ABSTRACT
The study was conducted to compare the feeding values of Cynodon dactylon or
Digitaria smutsii as basal diet on growth and some blood metabolites in weaned female
Yankasa lambs. Twenty weaned female Yankasa lambs with an average body weight of
10± 2kg were randomly assigned to four treatments with five lambs per treatment in a
randomized complete block design.
They were fed with either Cynodon dactylon (treatments A and B) or Digitaria smutsii
(treatments C and D) ad labium. Animals in treatments A and C were supplemented at
1.0% of body weight (BW) while those in treatments B and D were supplemented at
1.5% BW. The concentrate was a mixture of maize (75.2%), cottonseed cake (23.8%),
common salt (0.5%), and bone meal (0.5%). The chemical composition of the feed
ingredients showed that Digitaria smutsii comprised DM 97; Ash 7.3; EE 4.1; CP 6.3:
NDF 73 and ADF 46%. Cynodon dactylon on the other hand had a composition of; DM
97.1; Ash 7.2; EE 3.5; CP 6.1; NDF 76.4 and ADF 47.0%. The concentrate had a
composition of DM 98; Ash 19.4; EE 5.2; CP 18.8; NDF 34.1 and ADF 25.0%.
The result showed that there was no difference in the nutrient content of Digitaria and
Cynodon, but the analysis of concentrate revealed a higher level of crude protein and
lower levels of neutral and acid detergent fibers.
The forage intake was higher in Digitaria but not significantly (P>0.05) different from
Cynodon. There was an increase in concentrate intake as the level of supplementation
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increased. The same trend was observed with the total intake. Supplementation at 1.5%
gave higher (P>0.05) total intake than at 1.0% supplementation. Daily weight gain was
higher (P>0.05) with Cynodon supplemented at 1.5% BW than with Digitaria
supplemented at 1.5% BW.
Cynodon supplemented at 1.5% BW was found to be the most efficient and was
significantly (P<0.05) different from Digitaria supplemented at 1.5% BW. The
digestibility result also showed no differences between the two forages. Supplementation
was found to increase the level of blood protein, albumin, and globulin. It was concluded
from the study that Cynodon dactylon is a good forage substitute for Digitaria smutsii at
a high supplementation level of 1.5%. It is hence recommended as good forage for small
ruminants. This is because it has almost the same chemical composition as Digitaria
smutsii, hence almost the same nutritive values. Also the body weight gain was higher for
animals on Cynodon than Digitaria at the same level of supplementation. It is therefore
recommended that Cynodon dactylon which is a native pasture available as weed in all
the ecological zones of the country can be effectively produced and used as forage for
small ruminant production.
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Contents pages
Title page i
Declaration ii
Certification iii
Dedication iv
Acknowledgement v
Table of Contents vi
List of Tables vii
List of Appendices viii
Abstract xi
CHAPTER ONE: Introduction 1
CHAPTER TWO: Literature Review 5
2.1 Livestock Distribution 5
2.1.1 World Distribution 5
2.1.2 Distribution in Nigeria 6
2.2 Breeds of Sheep 7
2.2.1 Uda 7
2.2.2 Balami 8
2.2.3 Yankasa 8
2.2.4 West African Dwarf
2.3.1 Primary Products 9
2.3.2 Sheep by-product 11
2.3.3 Secondary Products 11
2.4 Sheep Production in Nigeria 12
2.4.1 Protein Requirement 15
2.4.2 Energy Requirement of Ruminant 16
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2.4.3 Minerals 17
2.4.4 Water 17
2.4.5 Feeding Sheep 17
2.4.5.1 Concentrate 17
2.4.5.2 Forages or Roughages 18
2.4.5.3 Feed intake 22
2.4.5.4 Digestibility 23
2.4.5.5 Animal Factor 24
2.4.5.6 Quality of Feed 25
2.4.6 Weight gain and Supplementation 26
2.4.6.1 Efficiency of Feed Conversion 28
2.5.1 Experimental Forages 29
2.5.2 Digitaria Smutsii 38
CHAPTER THREE: Materials and Method
3.1 Location of Experiment 42
3.2 Experimental Procedures 42
4.1 Feeding trial 46
4.1.1 Composition of Diets 46
4.1.2 Digestibility of Nutrients 46
4.1.3 Blood Protein Level 48
4.2 Feed intake, Body weight gain and
Feed Conversion Efficiency 48
CHAPTER FOUR: Results
CHAPTER FIVE: Discussion
5.1 Discussion 52
5.2 Conclusion 57
References 58
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CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
Small ruminant production in Nigeria has been characterized by low productivity. Several
factors have been adduced to this; among them is the low reproductive characteristic of
small ruminants found in the country. Others include the management system practiced
as well as high morbidity and mortality especially during the rainy season (Gefu, 2002).
The low productivity of livestock in Nigeria is associated with genetic, nutritional,
management and disease factor (Isiyaku, 1988). However, nutrition appears to be the
most important factor since with poor nutrition, disease becomes a dominant constraint.
The low plane of animal nutrition in the country results from the seasonality and growth
of natural herbage especially within the Sahel and Sudan savannah zones. These zones
have the largest population of ruminant livestock in the country and are characterized by
long dry season (6-8 months) which causes a decline in both quantity and quality of
available grazing forage. (Agishi, 1986; Olayiwole, 1986). In spite of the importance of
sheep in Nigeria, their productivity is low( David-West, 1983) and poor nutrition has
remained one major factor limiting productivity of the indigenous sheep in Nigeria
(Ogundipe ,2002). However, grasses are the most abundant basal feed for small
ruminants and livestock generally their palatability and digestibility vary with the species
and stage of maturity (Lakpini 2002). Consequently, animals fed on mature forage have
lowered intake of digestible energy for maintenance hence their poor performance
(Olubajo and Oyenuga, 1971). Since ruminants in Africa are traditionally raised on
natural pasture that declines rapidly in quality during the dry season (Ademosun, 1973),
changes in nutritional status results in a very irregular growth, marked with fluctuation in
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seasonal weight gain (Wilson, 1987). This poor animal performance has given rise to low
animal protein intake by the average Nigerian. Therefore, the use of pastures on a large
scale will rapidly develop the Nigerian livestock industry as it is regarded as a low feed
base for ruminants especially sheep. Fresh forage is often the sole diet of ruminants in the
humid tropics whereas the indigestible organic matter is the main factor of variation in
their nutritive value (Achimede et. al., 2002).
To improve ruminant productivity, farmers are increasingly relying on weeds as a
potential feed source; notable among these weeds is Cynodon dactylon (C dactylon or
bermuda grass). Bermuda grass originally came from the savannah of Africa and is the
common name for all the East African species of Cynodon. It grows in open areas where
there are frequent disturbances such as grazing, flooding and fire. Although most of the
specie have remained in Africa today, C. dactylon is found growing in pastures and the
under stories of open woodland and orchards. It is called bermuda grass in United States
of America because it was introduced from the Bermuda Island. It is a creeping grass and
will creep along the ground and root while Digitaria smutsii on the other hand, is a
pasture imported from Australia. It is a robust hefted perennial growing to about 1.5m
and with an oblique rhizome. Its lowest leaf sheathes are densely hairy at the base but
higher ones have few hairs (Anon1, 2003). Although the use of improved pasture such as
D. smutsii is an established practice in institutional research farms, this is not feasible in
traditional husbandry. Furthermore the importation, growing and cultivation of this
pasture is both labour and capital intensive which is sufficient reason to search for
alternatives. Small scale farmers cannot afford the investment required to establish
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improved pasture and to feed concentrate supplement to alleviate dry season growth
checks .
JUSTIFICATION
According to the Food and Agricultural Organization (F.A.O. 1986), the Nigerian
average intake of animal protein is 15 g per day, which is far below the recommended
minimum level of 56 g per day. The main reason for the poor intake of animal protein is
poor livestock productivity, which is due to poor nutrition, diseases, bad breeding
practices and management. Of these factors, nutrition appears to be the most important
because the gain of selective breeding, good management and disease control can only be
realized with adequate plane of nutrition.
This project was hence conceived to evaluate the effects of C. dactylon which is a
common weed in this part of the country (North Central) on growth of weaned Yankasa
female lambs as well as to compare this with those of improved pastures such as D.
smutsii. It is envisaged that a positive outcome of this research will present the livestock
farmer with a suitable feeding substitute for both intensive and semi intensive sheep
farming.
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OBJECTIVE OF THE STUDY
The broad objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of feeding C. dactylon or
Digitaria smutsii supplemented with concentrate at 1.0 or 1.5% BW on growth and some
blood metabolites .The specific objectives of this study were to evaluate:
1 The effect of feeding C. dactylon or Digitaria smutsii on growth in weaned
female Yankasa lambs.
2. The total protein, albumin and globulin profiles in the animals fed C. dactylon or
D. smutsii.
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